Winding apparatus



Sept. 29, 1959 E. FLETCHER 2,906,470

WINDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 19, 1953 INVENTOR.

Spt. 29, 1959 Filed March 19, I953 E. FLETCHER 2,906,470

WINDING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Ed Fletcher JM M.

r 2,906,470 1C Patented Sep 2 1959 WINDING APPARATUS Ed Fletcher, Newark, Ohio, assignor to Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application March 19, 1953, Serial No. 343,314

3 Claims. (Cl. 242-72) This invention relates to winding or packaging filaments or fibers and particularly to a method and apparatus for collecting or winding continuous fibers or filaments into a package concomitantly with the fiberforrning or attenuating operation.

In the manufacture of filaments or fibers, especially .those attenuated from heat-softenable materials such as glass, slag, fusible rock, fiber-forming resins and the like, it has been conventional practice to wind the fibers or filaments in strand or linear group formation onto a substantially rigid tube which may be mounted on a drum carried by a rotatable spindle. An apparatus of this character is illustrated in my United States Patent, No. 2,274,681 granted March 3, 1942. After a quantity of strand of fibers or filaments is wound on the sleeve, the latter is slipped OK the spindle and the fibers unwound from the sleeve onto standard textile spools for shipment to textile mills for processing the strand into yarns, fabrics and other products.

Shipping the rigid tubes of collected fibers is uneconomical because the tubes are comparatively expensive and hence must be returned for re-use. Furthermore, the use of rigid tubes makes it difficult and commercially impractical to remove the tube from the interior of the strand package as the tube is noncollapsible and hence the strand cannot be unwound from the inside. ,Moreover, the winding tension that accumulates in the package during the winding of the strand upon the tube is substantial and causes the strand to compress the tube and increases the difiiculties of removing the strand. Furthermore, the tension stresses in the strand package are further augmented as the filaments when wound upon the tube are above room temperature and as they cool, after I being wound upon the tube, further contraction of the strand ensues, a condition which increases the difiiculty of strand removal. d

Efforts have been made to use a thin-walled sleeve formed of paper, resin-coated cloth, rubber or rubberlike material for collecting the strand, but difiiculties have been encountered in supporting the sleeve so that the same may be rotated at the high speeds necessary for the production and collection of strand of filaments on a satisfactory and commercially practicable basis.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for collecting fibers or strands of fibers upon a thinwalled sleeve supported in .a manner whereby centrifugal forces counteract the widing tension so that at the completion of a winding operation the sleeve and accumulated fibers or strands may be readily removed from the supporting means.

The invention has for an object the provisionv of a supporting and driving means for a sleeve upon which fibers are to be wound wherein the supporting means isffash- Another object of the invention is the provision of a rotatable support or drum provided with zones whichare influenced by centrifugal forces of rotation to establish a drive with a strand-packaging sleeve, the zones'under the influence of centrifugal forcessubstantially counteracting the radially acting stresses resulting from the tension of winding the strand upon the sleeve whereby the sleeve and strand accumulated thereon are stress-relieved in radial directions so as to be readily disengaged from the support, the sleeve collapsed and the package of strand removed from the sleeve, thus providing access to a free end of strand at the interior of the package to facilitate withdrawal of the strand for further processing.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per s e, and to economics of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which: i I '2 Figure 1 isa semidiagrammatic view of a formof apparatus for producing and collecting a linear groupor strand of continuous'filaments or fibers from heat-softenable material; I

Figure 2 is an isometric view illustrating a form of strand collector supporting and driving means of the invention; a

Figure 3 is an end elevational view illustrating a strand collector and one form of rotatable support therefor;

Figure 4 is :a view of the collector and support of Figure 3 showing portions of the support in flexed position during high-speed rotation thereof;

' Figure 5 is an end elevational view of amodifiedform of holder or support and strand-collecting sleeve mounted thereon, the parts being shown in their relative positions in static condition; g i Figure dis a view of the arrangement of Figure 5 with the parts illustrated in their relative positions during high-speed rotation; v

Figure 7 is an end elevation showing another form of rotatable support for a strand-collecting means;

Figure 8 is an end view of the arrangement of Figure 7 illustrating the relative positions of the support and collector under high-speed rotation, and r Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of acollector and supporting means illustrating a driving arrangement for the collector-supporting means and the manner of accumulating strand material on the collector.

While the filament or strand collecting arrangement and supporting means therefor are illustrated in combination with means especially adapted'to produce continuous filaments or fibers from heat-softenable material such as glass, it is to be understood that the invention may be utilized for attenuating and collecting linear groups or strands of filaments of other heat-softenable, fiber-forming materials such as argillaceous rock, slag, acetate resins, linear polymeric amide resins and the like. Referring initially to Figure l, therev are illustrated semidiagrammatically an apparatusfor flowing streams of heat-softenable mineral material such as glass and collecting means upon which continuous filaments orfibers are collected as the streams are attenuated to filaments or fibersthrough the winding thereof upon the collecting means. The'illustrated apparatus includes a forehearth 10 of a melting furnace (not shown) equipped with a feeder 12 formed with a plurality of orifices or outlets from which flow streams S of the molten or heat softened material. a

The streams S are drawn out or attenuated into fine continuous filaments by means of a winding mechanism 15 which is operated atcomparatively high speed. The con tinuous filaments drawn or attenuated from the streams are moved into convergence by a filament-gathering means in the form of a spool or guide 17 whereby the fila- .ments are gathered into-a linear group, sliveror strand-20. A lubricant or sizing material maybe 'applied'to the continuous filaments adjacent the gathering spool -17. -A supply of'lubricant or sizing material may be'contained in a receptacle 22 provided with a discharge tube 24'having its terminus disposed to deliver lubricant or sizing ma :terial upon the filaments adjacent the spool 17. The tube 24 is preferably equipped with a valve '25 for regulating the rate of flow-or discharge oflubricant or coating material from the receptacle 22.

The linear group or'strand '20 of filaments is wound -upon a rotatable strand collector or sleeve 30 and is distributed thereon'by a conventional'traversing device 27 which, as illustrated, is in the form of loops of wire 23 'angularly arranged with respect to their supporting shaft -29 so that during rotation of the traversing device the -wire loops or guides 28--direct the strand rapidly in alternate directions longitudinally of the strand collecting means.

The present invention relates to a means for supporting and rotating a thin-walled sleeve or tube 30 upon whicn the strand or linear group of attenuated filaments is collected. The strand-collecting sleeve is adapted to be rotated at a comparatively high speed and serves not only to attenuate the streamsto filaments forming the strand or linear group but also to collect the strand into package formation.

Figures 2 through 4 illustrate one form of holder or mandrel for supporting the sleeve during filament-attenuating and strand-collecting operations. The sleeveholding means of the present invention is configurated or shaped in a manner whereby the peripheral zones or portions of the holding means are distorted or flexed under the influence of centrifugal forces of rotation to exert expansive gripping pressure or force on the interior Wall of the tube or sleeve upon which the strand or group of filaments is wound. The sleeve holder is fashioned with peripheral portions or sections which are flexed and distended outwardly from the center of rotation at high speeds of rotation to establish a frictional drive connection with the sleeve to rotate the sleeve and to expand the sleeve in a manner to counteract or resist compressive pressures of the winding tension accumulating in the strand package during winding operations.

'By expanding the sleeve during strand-winding operations, the tension stresses in the strand package are effectively counteracted sothat, upon Cessation of rotation of the holder and sleeve, the sleeve-engaging portions or sections of the holder are reflexe d or returned to their iniial positions, providing suflicient clearance between the sleeve and holder so that the sleeve and strand accumulated thereon may be slidably removed from the holder.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the holder or drum is formed with a body portion 36 of resilient or flexible material which may be bonded or otherwise fixedy secured or joined to a metal tube or mandrel 37 adpted for mounting upon a rotatable spindle 39 in the manner shown in Figure 9. The peripheral zone of the pcrtion 36 of flexible or yieldable material is formed with spaced slots 40 which are disposed askew to a radial position and askew with respect to the peripheral surfaces 42 of the sections, projections or cleats 44 formed by the slots 40. The skew positioning of the slots 40 results in the formation of the sections 44 into a shape or configuration (indicated in Figure 3) of such character that, under the action or influence of centrifugal forces'of rotation, the sections 44 will be flexed or distended outwardly or radially of the axis of rotation'45 of the holder whereby, at high speeds, such forces establish a frictional or gripping engagement with the strand-collecting sleeve 30. The sleeve 30 may be formed of flexible material or of material that is both flexible and expandible to a limited extent. For example, the sleeve may be made of resin, such as polyethylene, copolyrners of vinyl acetate and vinyl chloride, vinylidene and the like, or of paper, flexible cardboard or other flexible material.

As shown in Figure 9, the sleeve holder 35 is mounted upon a spindle 39 driven by suitable means (not shown). Also mounted upon the spindle -39 at the end of the holder are drum-like members 48 and 49, the peripheral surfaces of which provide means upon which the strand is wound .during initial-rotation of thespindle until the spindle and holder attain'a uniform high speed of rotation'at which time the strand '20'is directed onto the sleeve 30 to form the strand package 31. It is essential that the streams be attenuated to filaments and-the'strand of filaments wound upon the sleeve at a substantially uniform speed in order that the formed filaments be of uniform size to render the strand satisfactory for textile uses. The holder 35 and the members 48 and 49 are secured to the spindle by means of threaded members 50 and 51.

The sections or flexible cleats 44 are of a general trapezoidal shape, that is, the dimension of the peripheral or circumferential distance indicated at A is greater than thebase dimension of each section as indicated at B. This configuration establishes a relatively narrow connection 46 between the body 36 and each projecting section 44. The relatively narrow connecting sections 46, in effect, form fulcrums, pivots or flexure zones for the peripheral sections 44 so that during rotation of the holder 35 the sections 44, under the influence of centrifugal forces, are distended and approach radial positions as shown inFigure 4.

As the sections 44 are flexed toward radial positions, the peripheral surfaces 42 thereof are moved or distended to greater radial distances from the axis of rotation 45 of the supporting spindle thus increasing the effective diameter of the holder 35. The distending or flexing of the sections 44 in a radial direction causes the surfaces thereof to grip the inside wall of the'strand-collecting sleeve 30 to establish a drive for the sleeve.

As the speed of rotation increases, the flexible sec tions 44 are held in their outwardly distended or projected positions by centrifugal forces. During the winding of the strand or linear group of filaments 20 upon "the sleeve 30, tension stresses are accumulated in the strand package 31 being formed on the sleeve. The accumulating stresses of tension in the collected strand are resisted and substantially counteracted or neutralized by the radially directed forces set up by high-speed rotation acting upon and through the flexible sections 44 to resist the compressive pressures built up in the package. From an examination of Figure 3, it will be noted that the line CC, aligned with a wall of one of the sections 44, is disposed at angle E with respect to a radius DD of the holder 35. The angle E is illustrativeof the normal positioning'of the sections 44 when the holder is in static position. As shown in Figure 4, the angle E, between line C--C aligned with a wall of one of the flexed sections 44 and a radius D'D' of the holder, illustrates the outwardly distended condition of the sections 44 under the influence of centrifugal forces and that the sections 44, under-high-speed rotation, do not reach a full radial position. Should the tension stresses cumulated in the strand package increase 'as the package enlarges in size, the tension forces acting "inwardly radially of the package will flex the sections 44 in the direction of their initial static position. A very slight movement of the sections 44 toward their initial static positions, 'viz., the positions shown in Figure 3,v is usually sufficient to relieve the tension forces in the strand whereby the strand tension is reduced. When such tension forces become substantially equal to the centrifugal forces developed by rotation of the holder and'package, the inward flexing of sections 44 will cease until accumulated tension stresses in the package are again increased or the speed of rotation of the holder and package is reduced. I

Upon reduction in speed of rotation, causing a reduction in centrifugal forces, the sections 44 will be reflexed or pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, about the restricted connecting portions 46 toward their normal static positions. 'At the completion of the formation of a strand package upon the strandsupporting sleeve 30 and after the holder has ceased rotating, the sections 44 completely return to their initial static positions shown in Figure 3, in which condition the sleeve and strand package are substantially relaxed or stress-relieved and may be slidably removed from the holder 35.

In the event that any residual compressive forces remain in the strand package after rotation of the holder ceases, the sleeve 30 and package may be readily removed as the. shape of the sections 44 is such that it permits further inward flexing of the sections by reason of the clearance slots 40. Through this arrangement, the thin-walled sleeve 30 may be readily collapsedafter its removal from the holder 35 and may be withdrawn from the interior of the strand package. By removing the sleeve from the package, the inner, free end of the strand is rendered accessible so that the strand may be subsequently transferredto or wound upon a textile spindle in the conventional manner.

Figures and 6 illustrate another form of strandcollecting sleeve holder. In this form of the invention, the body portion of the holder 60 of resilient material such as rubber or the like is formed with dovetailed slots 62, providing distortable or distendible sections 64 at the peripheral zone of the holder. In this form, the side Walls 65 of each section 64 are in convergent relation providing a relatively narrow connecting portion 67 joining the body 68 of the holder with the cleats or sections 64. The portions of the sections 64 adjacent the convergent walls 65 are readily responsive to or affected by centrifugal forces set up by rotation of the holder.

During high-speed rotation of the holder 60, the portions of the sections 64 adjacent the walls 65 are flexed outwardly by centrifugal forces and serve to support the strand-collecting sleeve 30, establishing a drive connection therewith. The portions or sections 64 are of a size and shape such that, under the influence of centrifugal forces of rotation, they are flexed outwardly with sufficient force to resist and substantially counteract the stresses set up by winding tension which accumulate in the package during its formation in substantially the same manner as in the form of the invention shown in Figures 2 through 4.

Figure 6 illustrates the general shape of the sections 64 developed under the influence of centrifugal forces when the holder 60 is rotated at high speed. It should be noted that the peripheral corner zones 72 of the sections 64 are distended or flexed outwardly, as shown, to engage and tightly grip and support the strand-collecting sleeve 30. The outward distortion of the zones 72 results in a widening of the slots 62 as shown in Figure 6. At the cessation of rotation and completion of a strand package, the sections 64 return to their original shape illustrated in Figure 5, thus relieving substantially all the stresses of strand tension accumulated in the strand package, so that the sleeve 30' and the strand collected thereon may be slidably removed from the holder 60.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate another form of sleeve holder or support. In this form of the invention, the holder 80 is formed with a body portion 82 and a peripheral or circumferential band-like portion 84, the latter being adapted to directly engage the strand-collecting sleeve 30". The body portion 82 is integrally joined with the peripheral band portion 84 by a plurality of connecting sections or ribs 86 which normally are disposed in askew relation, as indicated by the line F- -F, with respec t to a radius DD. The body 82, connecting sections 86 and circumferential band 84 are made of flexible or distortable material. It should be noted that the askew relation of the connecting sections 86, as illustrated by angle G, with respect to the radius DD is a substantial amount so that, under the influence of centrifugal forces, the connecting sections 86 are distended or flexed to approach a more nearly radial relation as shown in Figure 8. It is preferable that at the maximum position of distention the sections 86 should not attain a full radial position for most satisfactory operation, such maximum position of distention being indicated in Figure 8 by the angle G between radius DD' and the line F- As illustrated in Figure 8, the circumferential band 84 is stretched and expanded in a radial direction under the influence of centrifugal forces to grip tightly and establish a drive with the sleeve 30", the centrifugal forces acting upon sections 86 flexing them outwardly to the positions illustrated in Figure 8. Upon the cessation of winding operations, the connecting sections 86 are reflexed'or returned to their initial static positions shown in Figure 7, and the peripheral band-like portion 84 is thus contracted to permit the sleeve 30" and strand collected thereon to be slidably removed from the holder 80. Under high-speed rotation the arrangement of sections 86 and band 84 resists and counteracts or neutralizes the stresses of winding tension in the strand package in the same manner as the other forms of the invention.

The holders in the several forms of the invention may be made of material which is yieldable or flexible to the extent that the centrifugal forces will be effective to produce the distortion or distention of the sections of the holder to accomplish the purposes of the invention. Materials such as semihard rubber, synthetic rubber such as butadiene or buna N compositions and other moldable plastics may be used for the purpose. If desired, such materials may be reinforced with fabrics or other fibrous constituents as may be required for extremely high-speed rotation.

The holder is rotated at comparatively high speeds of 10,000 linear feet or more per minute during winding operations. At these speeds the centrifugal forces acting upon the distortable sections of the holder are substantial and are effective to grip the strand-supporting sleeve and to resist and react against the winding stresses established in the strand package during its formation.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for collecting filaments including, in combination, means for supporting a thin-walled sleeve of flexible and expandible material upon which filaments are wound, said means comprising a rotatable sleeve holder of yieldable material having a body portion and a peripheral zone, the peripheral zone of the holder being formed with spaced slots extending outwardly of the axis of rotation of the holder and in askew relation with respect to the peripheral surface of the holder forming circumferentially spaced cleats, the walls defining each slot being convergingly arranged forming relatively small sections integrally connecting the cleats with the body.

portion whereby the cleats are readily flexed outwardly relative to the connecting sections under the influence of centrifugal forces of rotation to engage and grip the filament collecting sleeve.

2. Apparatus for collecting filaments including; in combination, means for supporting a thin-walled sleeve of flexible and expandible material upon which filaments are wound, said means comprising a rotatable member of generally cylindrical shape formed of yieldable material having a central body portion and circumferem iially spaced peripheral projections :integrally joined with -fl1e-body porti0n, saidperipheral projections beingdefined Tby slots arranged in nonradial relation with respect to lthe axis of rotation of the member, the walls defining each slot being in converging relation whereby the width of the slot .at its innermost region is greater than the width at the peripheral region of the adjacent'projections, 'Zsai d slots forming sections integrally connecting .the projections with the central body portion, the widths of the sections joining the projections with the body portion of the member being relatively narrow whereby the projections are adapted to be readily flexed outwardly .of the axis of rotation of the member under theinfluence of-centrifugal forces to engage and expand the sleeve during filament collecting operations.

"3. Apparatus for forming a package ofvstrand material by winding the strand material upon a thin-walled-sleeve of ,fiexible and expandible material including in combination, a rotatable holder arranged to support the sleeve, means for rotating the holder, said holder being formed of distortable material adapted to change shape by centrifugal .forces during rotation, said holder having circum- Qferentially spaced peripheral projections defined by slots arranged generally obliquely with respect to adjacent radial planes through the axis of the holder, the walls defining the slots being in converging relation whereby the widths of the slots at their innermost regions are greater than at the peripheral regions of the projections :formingsectionsintegrallyconnecting the projections with :the central region of the holder, the connecting sections being relatively narrow whereby the projections are adapted to be'readily flexed outwardly underthe influence of centrifugal forcesvexerting outwardly directed pressure against the sleeveestablishing aldrive connection-therefor :and opposing contracting forces in the package resulting .from winding tension, said projections beinginherently .contracted to normal position when rotation of the holder .and centrifugal vforces are discontinued whereby the sleeve and package of strand material may be slidably removed tromtheholder.

References Cited'in'the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,122,627 Milne Dec. .29, 1914 l2,274;681 Fletcher Mar. 3, 1942 2,394,639 Seem Feb. 12, 1946 2,457,786 'Slayter Dec. 28, 1948 2,689,633 Turner Sept. 21, 1954 2,707,038 Szady Apr. 26, 1955 

